Golden Knights at Flames
The expansion Vegas Golden Knights have aced every test thus far in their inaugural season, carrying the best record in the Western Conference into the All-Star break. Another major hurdle awaits the Golden Knights, who visit the Calgary Flames on Tuesday night in the opener of a six-game road trip that features matchups against two division leaders.
Vegas holds a nine-point cushion atop the Pacific Division thanks to its league-high 19 home wins and will be facing the Flames for the first time. The Golden Knights did struggle during a six-game trek earlier in the season, going 1-4-1, but their top two goaltenders were both sidelined by injury at the time. Although Calgary has lost four in a row, it has earned points in 11 straight games (7-0-4) and holds a one-point edge over Los Angeles and Anaheim for third place in the Pacific. "It's going to be a battle," Flames captain Mark Giordano said of the stretch run. "I'd be shocked if those final two, three spots were decided before the last weekend of the season really, the last couple games."
TV: 9 p.m. ET, AT&T Sportsnet-Rocky Mountain (Vegas), Sportsnet West (Calgary)
ABOUT THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS (32-12-4): Vegas was well represented by its All-Star selections as James Neal score twice in a 5-2 win over the Central Division while netminder Marc-Andre Fleury dazzled in the skills competition by making 14 straight saves in a victorious effort. Neal has scored four times in his last six games while leading goal scorer William Karlsson has amassed 12 goals in his last 15 games. After laboring through an 0-for-19 stretch on the power play, the Golden Knights have converted on 5 of 9 chances in the last three games.
ABOUT THE FLAMES (25-16-8): Calgary severed ties Monday with 45-year-old Jaromir Jagr, who cleared waivers and is heading back to the Czech Republic to play for HC Kladno. The league's No. 2 all-time scorer, Jagr was limited to 22 games due to injury and remains 34 games shy of tying Gordie Howe for the most games played in history. "It's unfortunate that he couldn't get going, but he's really made our team better," Flames coach Glen Gulutzan. "Just the way his mindset was and the way he approached things, the way he saw the game ... there's a lot there with our guys."
OVERTIME
1. Calgary is 1-for-16 on the power play during its four-game skid (0-0-4).
2. Fleury is 7-3-1 with a 2.08 goals-against average and two shutouts versus the Flames.
3. Flames F Michael Frolik, out since Dec. 28 with a fractured jaw, is expected to return to the lineup Tuesday.